VisitBournemouth

A very good hotel with a choice of cuisine in a prime location.
Steve & Maggie, Stoke

There's plenty to see and do

When you think of a UK holiday by the beach, you probably picture a town just like Bournemouth, where you can relax on the sandy shore, surf on a beautiful reef and enjoy a festival atmosphere at any time of the year. Bournemouth’s popularity isn’t just a result of its award-winning beaches – it’s also got some of the UK’s best attractions, shops and restaurants as well as a packed calendar of events to draw in the crowds.

Bournemouth’s seven miles of beach are just the beginning. The town is also home to one of only four artificial reefs on the planet, built to enhance the surfing conditions. Bournemouth’s Pride Festival attracts thousands of tourists every year, and its bars and night clubs cater to people on their holidays and short breaks as well as the town’s student population.

Bournemouth has it all, from pretty parks to interesting museums. You can visit the Stour Valley Nature Reserve, or take a boat trip over to Brownsea Island to search for rare red squirrels. Other things to do include visits to ‘Go Ape!’ at nearby Moors Valley, and rides on the Bournemouth Cliff Lifts which offer easy travel between the cliff tops and the beach accompanied by spectacular views.

If you’re looking for an active holiday, then you can fill your visit to Bournemouth with water sports, outdoor activities and long walks along Dorset coastal paths. On the other hand, if you’d prefer to relax and unwind you’ll find no better place to enjoy afternoon tea followed by an ice cream by the sea.

Enjoy a typical seaside holiday as you play in the arcades, and then struggle back to the Savoy Hotel with an over-sized teddy bear. Savour those seaside sweets sold from stalls and stands on the sea front, and take home some novelty souvenirs or a Bournemouth postcard. Alternatively, if that’s not your thing, spend your days wandering through the surrounding picture-postcard countryside accompanied only by the songs of the birds.